What was an old munitions plant in Utah now owned by global auto supplier Autoliv is sending shock waves into auto plants around the world because the side curtain airbag inflators it made are defective. The explosive charge that releases the compressed gas that inflates the bag may not explode during an accident thereby rendering the airbag ineffective. Factories in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Japan and China are affected by the growing recall.
The problem first showed up in China at a Takata plant when the explosive mixture that inflates the airbag failed an incoming batch test.
The latest companies affected by the safety defect on side airbag inflators are Nissan and Subaru. This follows recalls at Acura, Honda and Toyota. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said today that Nissan is recalling 2012 Model Versa and Altima cars. Subaru is also recalling 2012 model Legacy and Outback vehicles.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
The Board of Directors of Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE:ALV, STO:ALIVSDB) – today raised the Company’s quarterly dividend to stockholders by two cents to 47 cents per share for the second quarter 2012, an increase of 4.4% from the previous quarter. Sales in 2011 grew by 15% to $8.2 billion. The dividend declared today will be payable on Thursday, June 7, 2012 to Autoliv stockholders of record on the close of business on May 23, 2012. The ex-date, when the shares will trade without the right to the dividend, will be Monday, May 21. Together with its joint ventures, Autoliv has 80 facilities with nearly 48,000 employees in 29 countries. Autoliv manufactures automotive safety products for all major automakers.